Gas range attachment



Nov. 2, 1937. w. A.FRANT2 2,097,812

l GAS RANGE ATTACHMENT Filed March 26, 1934 /lqlgl/lllffllll/ INVENTOR Z0 /9 Walter A. Frantz BY WQ@ Zz: ATTOR Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES GAS RANGE ATTACHMENT Walter A. Frantz, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application March 26,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to attachments for gas ranges and in particular to a combined water heater and cook stove or gas range.

One of the objects of this invention relates to the provision of a water heating attachment adapted for use in connection with gas ranges of the type having a plurality of horizontally disposed main burners employing a remotely positioned constantly burning ignition or pilot burner for the ignition of such main burners.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of means for utilizing the heat of the constantly burning ignition pilot of a gas range.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of a water heater in combination With a gas range in which the water is slowly heated by a burner which ordinarily is not used for cooking purposes, the water heater being substantially unaffected by, and not interfering with, the normal operation of the gas range.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of a water heater in combination with a gas range having improved means for the removal of water from the storage tank of the heater.

Another object of the invention relatesto the provision in a gas range employing a plurality of burners with a constantly burning pilot for such main burners, of a pilot burner having a hollow housing and connections between such housing to a water storage tank carried by the range.

A further object of this invention relates to the provision of a combined gas range and Water heater in which the storage tank of the water heater has provisions for readily cleaning the interior oi such tank and draining they entire contents thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, ar- 40 rangement and combination of parts, hereinafter illustrated and described in some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Water heaters have been used in connection with gas ranges prior to this invention, as for example the arrangements shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,245,905 to Hamilton and U. S. Patent No. 1,474,931 to Gordon. The devices disclosed in these patents do not comprehend the utilization of the heat of the flame of a constantly operating pilot burner which heat is ordinarily lost nor can the ranges of the patented devices be operated without reference to the water heater, as excessive or prolonged use for cooking purposes of the main burners used for heating the contents 1934, Serial N0. 717,444

of the Water storage tank Will cause overheating oi" the same with the possibility of an explosion or other dangerous or objectionable consequences.

In the drawing, Figure l is a side elevational View of a gas range illustrating one form of the invention. i

Figure 2 is a plan view of the cooking top of the range shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the range shown in Figures 1 and 2 with certain of the parts broken away for the purpose of better illustrating the invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4 4, Figure 2 showing certain details of the ignition pilot burner and its housing.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the invention as applied to a different type of range from that shown in Figures 1 to 3; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged end elevational view partly in section of the arrangement shown in Figure 5.

In Figures 1, 2, and 3 there is illustrated an ordinary gas range indicated generally by the numeral l having an oven compartment 2 and a broiling compartment 3 arranged to one side of the main top burners 4 of the range. Suitable valves 5 are provided for controlling the gas supply of the burners 4.

Centrally of the burners 4 there is positioned an ignition or pilot burner 6 which is supplied with gas by way of a conduit l under control of a push button valve 8 which provides the pilot burner 6 with a constant supply of gas which may be increased by merely pressing the button ofy the valve 8. Valves of this type are customarily used in connection with the expanding flame pilots and as their construction is well understood the valve 8 is not illustrated `in detail.

The pilot burner 6 is surrounded by a double Walled housing I0 having suitable apertures for receiving a plurality of flash tubes Il by means of Which gas from one or more of the ports of the burners 4 is conducted to the housing l0 and to the flame of the pilot burner for effecting the ignition of the burners 4 When the gas is supplied to them.

The push button valve 8 and the peculiar type of pilot burner 6 are illustrated for the purpose of showing the application of the invention to the expanding flame type of lighter in which the individual jets of the burner 6 can be projected from' a pilot housing to a point adjacent each of the burners 4 so that their ignition can be effeted when they are supplied with gas. When the pilot is used in this manner the ash tubes Il would be dispensed with.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the invention is not limited to any particular type of ignition device and in so far as both of the above referred to types of range` burner ignition devices are old in the art it is believed that further description of the ignition device is unneces- Sary.

A water storage tank l2 is supported by the frame work of a range preferably at the rear thereof above the range top plate I3 as shown in the drawing. The top plate may be of closed construction or it may be in the form of an open grill as both of these constructions are commonly used in the art to which this invention relates. The tank I2 is preferably made from a material which ordinarily is unaffected by hot water, as for example stainless steel or vitreous enameled steel. The tank I2 is insulated from the outer air by means of an insulating jacket I4. The lowermost part of the tank I2 is connected to a water supply line I5 by means of a hollow casing I6 within which there is located a suitable means (not shown) for ltering the water supplied to the tank I2. The lter I6 is preferably of sectional construction so that it may be taken apart for cleaning and other purposes. The upper end of the filter has a screw threaded tube II closed at its upper end and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes I8 drilled at a point adjacent to the upper end of the tube so that when water is supplied under pressure to the tank it will be directed in a generally horizontal direction to prevent'the mixing of the cold incoming water with the hot water of the tank.

The conduit I5 is provided with a three-way valve by means of which the water supply line of the tank may be cut o' and the entire contents of the tank withdrawn by way of the valve drain outlet' I9. This particular type of Valve is provided primarily for the purpose of draining and cleaning the tank as will be described in detail presently. Y

A conduit 2I is in communication with the lower portion of the tank and conduit 22 communicates with the upper portion of the tank by means of a pipe 23 preferably located inside the'tank as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The conduits 2| and 22 communicate with each other by means of the double walled housing I l! of the pilot burner 6. The housing I0 is preferably in the form of a cored casting having threaded openings for the reception of the conduits 2I and 22 which communicate with each other by way of water passageways 2Q which are formed between the walls of the casing or housing I0. It is of course obvious that other means may be provided to replace the housing shown for the purpose of heating the water of the tank I2, as for example arrangements of the type shown in the Hamilton and Gordon patents' previously cited.

The top part of the housing I 0 is provided with a threaded plug or cap 25 by means of which access may be had to the water passageways of the housing for cleaning and other purposes. ,Suitable openings 26 are provided in the upper VVportionof the housing for the escape of the products of combustion issuing from the burner 6, and other openings 2'! are provided for the reception of the tubes Il.

`Anr auxiliary gas supply for the burner 6 is provided'for by way of a conduit 28 which is connected through a thermostat 30 t0 .a gas supply line 3I. The thermostat 3|) has a tube 32 projecting into the interior of the tank as is customary in many devices of this sort. Ordinarily the heat emitted by the flame of the pilot burner 6 is sufficient to maintain the contents of the storage tank I2 at a vusable hot temperature. This temperature of course may be varied by using more or less insulation around the tank or by adjusting the pilot burner to operate with higher or lower flames or by adjusting the thermostat to operate at di'erent temperatures and in this manner the temperature of the water may be controlled to satisfy the individual needs of the user.

The thermostat 30 is provided for the purpose of quickly bringing the contents of the tank up to the desired temperature after water has been withdrawn from the tank, it being preferred to use the heat of the pilot burner when operating under normal conditions merely for the purpose of maintaining the tank contents at a desired predetermined temperature. If desired the thermostat 30 could be dispensed with entirely in which case it would take a greater length of time to bring the water in the tank up to the desired temperature after a quantity of its contents had been'withdrawn and replaced with cold water from the water supply line I5.

At the upper end of the tank there is provided a valve 33 having a Swiveled discharge nozzle 34 by means of which water from the tank may be directed into utensils carried at the rear part of the stove. It is of course obvious that if desired, the tank could be positioned alongside of the oven 2 and when carried in such manner the nozzle 34 could be used to direct water into cooking utensils carried above the top burners alongside of the oven.

The cleaning of the tank can be accomplished best by removing both the thermostat 3l] and the lter IIS in which case two openings are provided giving access to the interior of the tank. The provision of the three-way valve 2@ would also permit the draining and cleaning of the interior of the tank which could be effected by directing a stream of water into the opening provided for the thermostat 3G and if desired a screw threaded plug or cap 35 may be provided in the top part of the tank for cleaning purposes.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the application of the invention to a different type of range, indicated generally by the numeral 36 in which substantially all of the elements of the range are located below the top-plate 31 thereof. Ranges of this type have recently come back into favor. No great changes are required in the application of the invention to this type of range and the tank II, and the water and gas connections are substantially the same as used in connection with the range shown in the preceding figures of the drawing. Y

It is preferred that the water connections between the storage tank and the pilot burner be located so that they are substantially unalected by the operation of the top or main burners 4 of the stove in order that the water heating device in no way interferes with the customary and ordinary operation of the range.

One of the advantages of this invention is that it provides a means for utilizing the heat of a constantly burning ignition pilot burner which ordinarily is wasted. Another advantage of the invention is that of providing on a range a constant supply of clean hot water which can be used for cooking and other purposes.

Ordinary domestic supply water heaters are of such type that the hot water they produce cannot ordinarily be used for cooking and like purposes as water heated in this manner is usually tainted with rust and other impurities which accumulate in the heating system by reason of the fact that such systems are not ordinarily cleaned out except at infrequent intervals and also by reason of the use in the system of galvanized iron and other materials which are subject to corrosion by the water which they hold.

Furthermore it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departure from this invention as described in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. A gas stove comprising, a plurality of spaced cooking burners, a constantly operating burner positioned between said cooking burners, a housing having water conducting passages therein positioned adjacent to said constantly operating burner to be heated thereby, and means operable to ignite said cooking burners from said constantly operating burner.

2. In combination, a gas stove having a burner box, a plurality of cooking burners in said burner box, a constantly operating burner in said burner box positioned remotely from said cooking burners, means for igniting said cooking burners from said constantly operating burner, a water tank carried by said stove, and water conducting means in communication with the interior of said tank exposed to the flame of said constantly operating burner.

3. A gas stove comprising, a plurality of spaced cooking burners, a constantly operating burner positioned between said cooking burners, a housing having water conducting passages therein positioned adjacent to said constantly operating burner to be heated thereby, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the water being heated for controlling the fuel supply of said constantly operating burner, and means operable to ignite said cooking burners from said constantly operating burner.

4. A gas stove comprising, a plurality of spaced cooking burners, a constantly operating burner positioned between said cooking burners, a housing having water conducting passages therein surrounding said constantly operating burner to be heated thereby, and means including suitable openings in said housing operable to ignite said cooking burners from said constantly operating burner.

5. A gas stove comprising, a plurality of spaced cooking burners, a constantly operating burner positioned between said cooking burners, a housing having water conducting passages therein surrounding said constantly operating burner to be heated thereby, and ash tubes in communication with the interior of said housing operable to ignite said cooking burners from said constantly operating burner when fuel is supplied to said cooking burners.

6. A gas stove comprising, a plurality of spaced cooking burners, a constantly operating burner positioned between said cooking burners, a housing having water conducting passages therein positioned adacent to said constantly operating burner to be heated thereby, a storage container in communication with the passages of said housing, means for supporting said container with its top at a substantial distance above said cooking burners, valve means for withdrawing water from said container including a discharge nozzle pivotally mounted for movement over said cooking burners, and means operable to ignite said cooking burners from said constantly operating burner.

'7. A gas stove comprising, a plurality of spaced cooking burners, a constantly operating burner positioned between said cooking burners, a housing having water conducting passages therein positioned adjacent to said constantly operating burner to be heated thereby, a storage container in communication with the passages of said housing, means for connecting and disconnecting said container with respect to a source of water supply and for draining the contents thereof,

and means operable to ignite said cooking burners from said constantly operating burner.

8. A gas stove comprising, a plurality of spaced cooking burners, a constantly operating burner positioned between said cooking burners, a housing having water conducting passages therein positioned adjacent to said constantly operating burner to be heated thereby, a storage container in communication with the passages of said housing, means for connecting and disconnecting said container with respect to a source of water supply including a three-way valve for draining the contents thereof, and means operable to ignite said cooking burners from said constantly operating burner.

l WALTER A. FRANTZ. 

